Orthodontic brackets



Sept. 4,'- 1962 M. WALLSHEIN ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS INVENTOR, MELVIN WA LLSHEIN,

Filed Sept. 27, 1960 FIG4 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,052,028 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 3,052,028 ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS Melvin Wallshein, 8645 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. Filed Sept. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 58,779 12 Cliams. (Cl. 3214) Another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved orthodontic bracket construction having the attributes mentioned, allowing the dentist to have only one kind of brackets for every size of wire or cable he uses for the arch.

A further object thereof is to provide novel and improved orthodontic brackets of the character mentioned, which are easy to manufacture, reasonably cheap in cost, convenient to use and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume is to have a substantially V-shaped element fixed on the buccal surface of a tooth so that one arm of said V-form is in front of the other, whereby the arch wire shall extend between the arms of said element. The inner surface of said V-shaped element is formed with a plurality of transverse channels, one above the other, and alongside each other when all the channels are in one arm. In such latter instance, as herein shown in the drawings, the junction of adjacent channels is a sharp edge, and a sort of tooth is formed along the channel. The shape of such tooth maybe such that the tooth extends toward the other arm, or the tooth may be one which is directed towards the vertex of the V-form, or one which is directed away from the vertex of the V-forrn. These teeth have various functions as will be explained, and may be serrated for special conditions. Said channels are preferably of diflferent sizes. The bracket thus formed may be on a metal band tightly encircling a tooth, and of course, this bracket is of material having resilient quality and preferably a bit harder than the arch wire.

A more detailed description will now be given of preferred embodiment-s of the teachings of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a patients upper teeth about which is an orthodontic arch wire or cable shown mounted on brackets embodying the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a magnified perspective view of one of the brackets, which is a preferred form of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bracket of FIG. 2, showing a round arch wire supported in one of the channels.

FIG. 4 is an end view of said bracket supporting an arch wire of rectangular cross-section. This arch wire is shown resting on one of the mentioned teeth formed between the channels as a shelf therefor, and said arch wire is engaged by another of said teeth against lateral displacement.

FIGS. 5-8 are end views of brackets of modified constructure embodying this invention.

FIGS. 9-1-1 show different forms of construct-ion of said teeth which are between channels of the bracket.

All the figures, except FIG. 1 are of magnified scale.

FIGS. 7 and 9-l 1 are in perspective.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a preferred form of bracket which is a V-shaped element at the buccal surface ofa tooth 16, and is there held by being fixed onto for instance the thin metal band 17 which tightly encircles the tooth; one arm 18 of said V-shaped element being welded, soldered or otherwise secured to said band, so that arm 19 isin front of arm 18. Said arm 19 is fluted or its interior surface is otherwise formed to present a plurality of channels 20, 21, 22 across it, alongside and one over the other; the junctionof adjacent channels is a sharp edge whereby a sort of tooth is formed across the arm 19 at each such junction; said teeth being indicated by the numerals 23 and 24 respectively and extend toward the other arm 18 of the bracket 15. Said channels '20, 21, 22 are of different sizes, being larger near theopening of the V-shape and hence smaller, de-.

pending upon their distance from the vertex of the bracket, so that the whole range of arch wire sizes can be accommodated preferably in one bracket structure. A round arch wire 25 is shown clamped in place within-the channel. 21;.the V. being stressedupon the admission of such arch wire. It is evident that a smaller diameter Wire can be held clamped through the channel 22 and that a larger diameterwire can be supported clamped through the channel 20. If in certain procedures in orthodontia, two arch wires need beused, one of suitable size is held clamped in a channel away from the vertex of the bracket, while another arch wire nearly fitted within a channel nearer to vertex, maybe loose therein. When the arch wire is of rectangular cross-section as 26, it is rested on tooth 24 as on a supporting shelf therefor, and engaged by the tooth 23, as shown in FIG. 4. The arch wire 26 being non-circular, may be torqued as is sometimes required in orthodontic practices. If a second arch wire is,

" Instead of the straight tooth form 24, there may be the tooth form 27 shown in FIG. 9, which latter is curved to extend upwardly away from the apex of the V-forrn 15, thereby giving better shelf support for the rectangular arch Wire 26, or such when used is able to engage and bite-in into the round arch wire 25, which is readily understood without further illustration. Also, instead of the straight tooth form 23, the tooth may have the form shown at 28 in FIG. 10. Such when used in FIG. 3, would bite in and better engage the round arch wire 25, and when used in FIG. 4, would not only bite into the face of the rectangular arch wire 26, but would shove it downward onto the shelf tooth it rests on. In all events, the teeth thus far described, will hold the arch wire in association therewith, against lateral displacement. Longitudinal movement of the arch wire is not prohibited, because the bite in is not sutficient to prevent it. However, if the tooth is serrated as shown at 29 in FIG. 11, the bite in of the multiplicity of teeth is sufiicient to avoid longitudinal movement of the arch wire, because of resistance offered which would be by a plurality of brackets 15. Without further illustration, it wil be readily understood that an arch wire of rectangular cross-section can be rested on tooth 23 and be engaged by the tooth 30.

The brackets 15 may be of metal having some resilient quality, a stainless steel for instance. In orthodontic installations, each end of the arch wire is anchored by a suitable means well known in the art, here indicated by the numeral 38.

The bracket may be in the form shown in FIG. 5 in which the fluted arm 19" ot modified structure which is a zig-zag form, is nearest the tooth, or both arms may be fluted as shown in FIG. 6 where such arms are indi- 3 cated by the numerals 19'. If desired, the bracket 15 may have its outer arm formed by two tines 19" as is illustrated in FIG. 7 where such modified bracket is designated by the numeral 15. Or, the bracket may be as 15" shown in FIG. 8 where one of the arms is formed with a shelf-like form 31 extending between the arms 32, 33, to form the arch-wire carrying channels 34, 35.

In orthodontic practices, an arch wire is sometimes provided with an appreciable loop or crimp to be anchored at a bracket. The bracket 15' is well adapted therefor; the loop 36 in arch wire 36, being positioned to extend in the space in or near the tines 19'. The arch wire 36 is in one channel, while in the next channel is a second arch Wire 37 in front of said loop, to hold the wire 36 against rotation.

Without further illustration, it is readily understood that the various tooth formations shown in FIGS. 9-11, are applicable to the teeth lengthwise between the channels in the brackets of FIGS. -7 and that such tooth formations may be formed along the free edge 31 of the shelf 31.

Although mentioned that the brackets are for arch Wires at the buccal side, they of course may be used for lingual side arch wire installations.

The channels in the bracket arms may be of any desired cross-sectional shapes.

This invention is capable of various forms without departing from the essential rfeatures herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an orthodontic bracket for supporting one or more arch wires, a member adapted to be rigidly attached onto a tooth in a mouth and a substantially V- shaped element having some resilient quality, one arm of which is fixed substantially upright on said member whereby the second arm of said element is in front of said first arm; the inner surface of said element having transverse channels, one above the other, each of said in one of the arms of the V-form is flat and all the channels are in the other arm.

5. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1, where in each arm has at least one channel.

6. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1, wherein the channels are formed by arcual bends in the arms they are in.

7. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1, wherein the channels are formed by spaced bends in the anns they are in.

8. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1, where in one of the arms comprises tines in spaced relation.

9. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 2, wherein the widths of every pair of adjacent channels are such respectively that the smaller is nearer to the vertex of the Vaform.

10. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 3, wherein said tooth extends in 'a direction from the arm it is on, towards the other arm of the V-form.

11. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 3, wherein said tooth extends in a direction towards the vertex of the V-form.

12. An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 3, wherein said tooth extends in a direction away from the vertex of the V-form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wagner Aug. 4, 1959 

